Michel Kuka Mboladinga stands for 90 minutes, right arm raised, without moving an inch. He does not greet, does not celebrate, does not sit down. With his body he imitates the statue of Patrice Lumumba that stands in Kinshasa, and that has made him the strangest and most beloved fan in African football. 🏟️
At 49, this Congolese man nicknamed simply ‘Lumumba’ went viral at the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, and his own players were so fascinated that they asked President Félix Tshisekedi to include him in the official delegation for the World Cup. No sooner said than done: the Federation covered all his travel, lodging, and ticket expenses. 🎟️
But when Congo made its debut against Portugal in Houston, Lumumba was not there. The U.S. requires a 21-day quarantine for travelers coming from Congo because of the Ebola outbreak, and the schedule simply did not allow it. He was expected to complete it in Brussels, but the timing did not work out. The good news: he is expected to arrive in Guadalajara for the match against Colombia. 🇨🇩 And Congo, which had not set foot in a World Cup since 1974 when it was still called Zaire, already drew with Portugal thanks to a goal by Yoane Wissa.
